When Revascularization May Be Appropriate in Atherosclerotic Renal Artery Stenosis.

Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is a condition that involves the narrowing of one or both renal arteries, most commonly caused by either atherosclerosis or fibroplasia. RAS can present in a multitude of clinical manifestations involving hypertension (HTN), heart failure, and renal failure. Current recommendations for treating patients with RAS involve strict medical therapy often without invasive therapies.

Metabolic effects of the left atrial appendage exclusion (the heart hormone study).

Introduction: The effect of epicardial left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion therapy on lipid and glucose metabolism in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients over the long-term follow-up are unclear.

Methods: In a single-center prospective observational study, 60 patients with longstanding persistent AF with cardiovascular risk factors had undergone an epicardial exclusion procedure. Anthropometric parameters and glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin, leptin, adiponectin, free fatty acids, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and total cholesterol levels were evaluated on fasting at baseline before the procedure and compared with levels at 24 h, 7 days, 1, 3, 6, and 24 months follow the procedure.

Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia: Etiology, Pathophysiology, and Management: JACC Review Topic of the Week.

Inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST) is a clinical syndrome that generally affects young patients and is associated with distressing symptoms. Although the most common symptom is palpitations, it can be accompanied by a myriad of symptoms, including anxiety, dizziness, presyncope, and syncope. The pathogenesis of IST is not well understood and considered multifactorial, with autonomic dysfunction being the central abnormality.

Localization of Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Premature Ventricular Complexes Using a Novel Mapping System.

Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) are common in the general population, usuallyasymptomatic, and deemed to be benign in structurally normal hearts. The spectrum of "benign" outflow tract PVCs ranges from single PVCs to recurrent non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT). Short-coupled right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) PVCs may trigger polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) in some patients and can be high risk.

Diagnostic Utility of Smartwatch Technology for Atrial Fibrillation Detection - A Systematic Analysis.

Background: Smartphone technologies have been recently developed to assess heart rate and rhythm, but their role in accurately detecting atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unknown.

Objective: We sought to perform a meta-analysis using prospective studies comparing Smartwatch technology with current monitoring standards for AF detection (ECG, Holter, Patch Monitor, ILR).

Methods: We performed a comprehensive literature search for prospective studies comparing Smartwatch technology simultaneously with current monitoring standards (ECG, Holter, and Patch monitor) for AF detection since inception to November 25th, 2019.

Use of a cerebral protection device to facilitate pulmonary vein isolation in a patient with left atrial mass arising from the interatrial septum.

Sentinel cerebral embolic protection devices (CPDs) may limit periprocedural cerebrovascular events by preventing micro and macro-embolization to the brain, and has been used in many cardiology and radiology procedures. We hereby report the use of a Sentinel CPD to facilitate safe and effective atrial fibrillation ablation in a patient with a left atrial mass arising from the interatrial septum.

A Novel-Modified Provisional Bifurcation Stenting Technique: Jailed Semi-Inflated Balloon Technique.

Objective: We proposed a new technique for the treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions, called jailed semi-inflated balloon technique (JSBT).

Background: Currently, provisional approach is recommended to treat most of coronary bifurcation lesions. However, it is associated with the risk of side branch (SB) occlusion after main vessel (MV) stenting due to plaque or carina shift into the SB.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcome of Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Device Infections in Turkey.

Infection is one of the most devastating outcomes of cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation and is related to significant morbidity and mortality. In our country, there is no evaluation about CIED infection. Therefore, our aim was to investigate clinical characteristics and outcome of patients who had infection related to CIED implantation or replacement.

Early assessment of percutaneous coronary interventions for chronic total occlusions analyzed by novel echocardiographic techniques.

Objective: Successful revascularization of chronic total occlusions has been associated with improved left ventricular systolic function, reduced anginal symptoms, increased exercise capacity, and increased survival. This study was conducted to determine the impact of revascularization in chronic total occlusion on left ventricular function using novel echocardiographic techniques.

Methods: A total of 129 patients with chronic total occlusion who underwent revascularization between April 2011 and November 2012 were included in this study.

Arterial distensibility in patients with ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms: is it a predisposing factor for rupture risk?

Background: A risk factor assessment that reliably predicts whether patients are predisposed to intracranial aneurysm (IA) rupture has yet to be formulated. As such, the clinical management of unruptured IA remains unclear. Our aim was to determine whether impaired arterial distensibility and hypertrophic remodeling might be indicators of risk for IA rupture.

A multicenter study on experience of 13 tertiary hospitals in Turkey in patients with infective endocarditis.

Objective: The aim of this retrospective multicenter study was to investigate the clinical manifestations, microbiological profile, echocardiographic findings and management strategies of infective endocarditis (IE) in Turkey.

Methods: The study population consisted of 248 Turkish patients with IE treated at 13 major hospitals in Turkey from 2005 to 2012 retrospectively. All hospitals are tertiary referral centers, which receive patients from surrounding hospitals.

Predictors of mortality in patients with prosthetic valve infective endocarditis: a nation-wide multicenter study.

Background: Our aim was to investigate the clinical and prognostic features of the patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) in a multicenter nation-wide study.

Methods: The present nation-wide study consisted of 75 consecutive patients with PVE treated at 13 major hospitals in Turkey from 2005 to 2012.

Results: The patients who died during follow-up were significantly older than the survivors and had higher C-reactive protein (CRP), creatinine, poor NYHA functional class and large vegetations.

[Cardiac device related infective endocarditis; analysis of 15 cases].

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the demographic and clinical characteristics, echocardiographic and microbiologic features, and outcomes of patients with permanent pacemaker (PM) and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) endocarditis in this study.

Study Design: The study population consisted of 15 patients with permanent PM and ICD endocarditis. Data on demographics, medications, clinical procedures, microbiology, echocardiography, surgery, and outcome were collected.

Carotid artery stiffness in patients with neurally mediated syncope.

Objectives: Neurally mediated syncope is defined as a transient loss of blood flow to the brain, resulting in vasodilatation, bradycardia, or both. The pathophysiologic mechanisms of neurally mediated syncope are not clear. In this study, we investigated carotid artery elasticity parameters in patients with neurally mediated syncope.

An unusual presentation of lymphoma: chylotamponade.

Chylopericardium is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening clinic entity. Here we reported a case with chylopericardium causing tamponade and shock as an unusual presentation of lymphoma. The patient was managed by immediate pericardiocentesis.

[Assessment of left ventricular functions with strain and strain rate echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging in patients with cardiac tamponade].

Objectives: We evaluated left ventricular (LV) myocardial functions with strain (S) and strain rate (Sr) echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) before and after pericardiocentesis in patients with cardiac tamponade.

Study Design: The study included 27 patients (19 men, 8 women; mean age 51.4 ± 16.